Ring blanker machine



March 13, 1934. J. .LECKERT RING BLANKER MACHINE Filed Aug. 8, 1932 8 Sheets-Sheet l V Q V Smm@ h March 13, 1934. J, J. ECKERT RING BLANKER MACHINE a y A@ y a w D .w 0 n Km mv Rw my 5J w k f m 8mm! ooouoooooooooo09nd@maxeoooooodooooofodoooooooooo ooooooowoooooooo mN s o O o 0 s O mM o@ M I o 2 a O o O .J .1. O OVl O @o 3 oo ou Y. E ooobuo. mmlmJ Q QN ww .f wm ma mm. .AQ `m` Rw *N www@ lw Nh N :WM 4 Mm\0`l @.Q` g o e c o u .|r. A M Q5 wm. l 1. 2N @j m NQ vb o m .0 0 o@ u w1 `N` E A wllnw. l Nm /f//1 mm\ ,mw oo oo oo oo o o A@ .Q Nm n .c Q.\\\ NQ ma* o O o o ml N* NW v hai MN ,V SQ o o o @NIM Marchl 13, 1934. J. J. ECKERT 1,951,048

RING BLANKER MACHINE O Filed Aug. 8, 1932 8 Sheets-Shat 3 25%. me

March 13, 1934. J. J. EcKl-:RT

RING BLANKER MACHINE Filed Aug. 8, 1932 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 March 13, 1934. J. J. EcKERT RING BLANKER MACHINE Filed Aug. 8, 1932 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 13, 1934. J, J, ECKERT 1,951,48

RING BLANKER MACHINE I Filed Aug. 8, 1952 SfSheeta-Sheet 6 IIIIIHIIIIIII Z4/ff March 13, 1934. .1.J. ECKERT RING BLANKER MACHINE 8 sflee'cs-SheecI '7 E? 73 Filed Aug. 8, 1932 March 13, 1934.`

J. J. ECKERT RINGlr BLANKER MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented Mar. 13, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 20 Claims.

This invention appertains to a novel machine for shaping and delivering blanks to a ring rolling machine, which can be of the type illustrated in my co-pending application, Serial No. 612,464, filed May 20, 1932.

One oi the primary objects of my invention is to provide a machine in which the flat bars or stock from which the ring blanks are made are fitted into one end oi the machine and successively acted upon and finally delivered out of the opposite end of the machine in their completed form to 'ce acted upon by the ring rolling machine.

Another salient object of my invention is the provision of a novel machine for continuously producing ring blanks from nat oblong-shaped solid pieces of stock or bars, in which the heated bars are initially acted upon by a punch or the like to form a central slit therein, then acted upon by a trimmer which severs the corners from the bars and .finally acted upon by spreader mechanism for opening up the blanks, so that the same can be placed upon the forming rollers ci the rolling machine.

A further important object of my invention is the provision of a conveyor for carrying the blanks through the machine in a step-by-step movement, whereby the blanks can be successively acted upon by the punch or slitter, the corner trimmer and spreader, the said slitter or punch, corner trimmer and spreader operating simultaneously so that three of the blanks will be acted upon at the same time.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a drive shaft arranged longitudinally oi the machine from which the slitter or punch, corner trimmer and spreader are all directly operated, with means for intermittently actuating the conveyor or feeder belt from said shaft.

A further object oi my invention is the provision oi novel means for intermittently actuathe endless conveyor or feeder belt from the main drive shaft, whereby the said belt will be operated in proper timed relation to the slitter or punch, corner trimmer and spreader, so tc insure the proper disposition of the blanks under the different operating mechanisms.

A further object ci my invention is the provision oi novel means for forming the endless conveyor or feeder chain per se, whereby the blanks will be properly held as the same are carried through the machine for permitting the effective Working ci the slitter, corner trimmer and spreader on the blanks.

A further object of my invention is the provision ci novel means for forming the spreading mechanism whereby the spreading lingers will be initially inserted in the slitted portions of the blank and thereafter separated for imparting to the blanks an openY substantially annular form, whereby the blanks can be delivered to the ring rolling machine to be accurately formed and trued.

A further object of my invention is the provision of novel means for delivering the formed ring blanks from the feed belt to a roller conveyor, so that the blanks will be carried in their proper position te the rollers of the ring forming machine.

A further object of my invention is the provision oi means whereby the direction of rotation of the roller conveyor can be reversed from the ring blank spreading mechanism, so that one blank can be delivered to one side of the ring rolling machine and the next blank delivered to the other side of the ring rolling machine.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a machine for forming ring blanks in which a maximum number oi blanks can be handled in a given time with the employance of a minimum amount of labor, the entire machine being oi a compact and durable form.

vWith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specically described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing my complete machine.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the same illustrating the position of the blanks relative to the different operating parts of the machine.

Figure 3 an enlarged fragmentary plan view illustrating a portion of the feeder belt and showing the novel fingers carried thereby for supporting a blank.

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken transversely through the machine on the line 4 4 of Figure l looking in the direction of the arrows illustrating the novel punch or slitting mechanism for the blanks.

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4 looking in the direction oi the arrows illustrating the guides for the punch head.

Figure 6 is a transverse section taken on the line 6--5 ci Figure 1 looking in the direction sor of the arrows illustrating the corner trimming mechanism.

Figure 7 is a horizontal section taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 6 looking in the direction of the arrows illustrating the corner trimming knives and the means for adjustably carrying the knives by the recipricating head.

Figure 8 is a horizontal section taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 6 looking in the direction of the arrows illustrating the bed plate or dye of the corner trimming mechanism.

Figure 9 is a transverse section through the machine taken on the line 9 9 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows illustrating a portion of the operating mechanism for the ring blank spreader.

Figure 10 is a detail vertical section illustrating a portion of the spreading mechanism and showing the spreading fingers in their open position for forming the completed ring blanks.

Figure 11 is a transverse section taken on the line 11-11 of Figure 1 looking inthe direction of the arrows illustrating a part of the spreading mechanism.

Figure l2 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view illustrating the roller conveyor for carrying the formed blanks from the machine to the ring roller.

Figure 13 is a transverse section taken on the line 13-13 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows illustrating a part of the mechanism employed for intermittently operating the feed belt.

Figure 14 is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating a portion of the mechanism for interfmittently operating the feed belt.

Figure 15 is an enlarged fragmentary detail transverse section through machine illustrating a portion of the mechanism for intermittently operating the feeder belt. Figure 16 is a diagrammatic View illustrating the relation of the blank forming machine relative to the ring rolling machine, the view being in top plan.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein A-similar reference characters designate the corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A generally indicates my improved machine, which embodies a longitudinally eX- tending bed plate 20 which supports the various operating units of the machine.

Arranged longitudinally of the bed plate 20 is an endless conveyor or carrier 21 for the stock from which the ring blanks are to be made. This endless conveyor embodies side sprocket Ychains 22 connected together by cross slats or flights 23. These sprocket chains 22 travel about front and rear pairs of sprocket wheels 24 and 25. The rear pair of sprocket wheels 25 can be keyed or otherwise secured to a cross shaft 26 rotatably mounted in suitable bearings carried by the uprights or frames 27 bolted or otherwise secured to the bed plate 20. The front pair of sprocket wheels 24 are rotatably mounted on a transversely extending front cross shaft 28, which is rotatably mounted in take-up bearings 29 slidably supported in brackets 30 connected with front uprights or standards 31. Adjustment of the carrier chains is accomplished by means of take-up screws 32 pulling against the cap piece 33 which is bolted to the outer end of the take-up guides or brackets 30.

The standards 31 support the feed table 34, which extends transversely of the machine at the extreme front thereof. This table provides a substantial surface on which the heated bar or stock are placed between the carrier chains, which convey the bars or stock through the machine, as will be later described.

To protect the operator while feeding the machine, a sheet metal guard 35 is provided. This guard is pivoted on a shaft 36, which is supported on the floor by the bearing brackets 37. The upper part of the guard 35 is attached to the take-up bearings 29 by means of a link (not shown), so that the guard will be automatically carried with the take-up sprocket wheels 24 when the same are adjusted by means of the adjusted screws 32.

At the front of the feed table 34 is a curved steel plate 38, which acts as a guide for the carrier chains, so as to prevent the carrier fingers (which will be hereinafter described) catching on the edge of the feed table while the carrier chains are in motion.

The carrier fingers are arranged in pairs on opposite sides of the carrier chains and the stock or bar indicated by the reference character 40 is received between these pairs of fingers and firmly held against shifting movement during the travel of the chain through 'the machine. One finger 41 of each pair is secured to a link of one chain while the other nger 42 of each pair is secured to an adjacent link of each chain. These fingers extend inwardly from the chains and the lingers 42 are provided with lugs 43 for engaging the ends of the stock or bar.

As heretofore intimated, the oblong flat bars or stock are heated in a furnace and fed to the front end of the machine adjacent to the feed table 34. This furnace is indicated diagrammatically in Figure 16 and bears the reference character 44. At the front end of the machine below the front end of the carrier chain is arranged a substantially U-shaped trough 45 in which travels a small drag conveyor 46. This conveyor 46 is utilized for carrying the strap away from the machine as will be later set forth, and this conveyor can be actuated by an independent motor or can be operated from the main motor of the machine. The inner edge of the U-shaped sheet metal trough 45 is provided with a jlip 47 which extends to the top edge of the bed plate 20 and this lip acts as a guide for directing the scrap into the conveyor trough.

Arranged in rear of the feed table 34 in spaced relation to one another and to the feed table are the operating units 43, 49 and 56. The unit 48 constitutes the piercer for slitting the metal bar or stock; the unit 49 constitutes the means for trimming the corners off of the bar or stock, while the unit 50 constitutes the means for spreading the bar or stock. Initially, the stock or bars are received from the furnace by the operator and placed on the feed table 34 between the pairs of ngers on the carrier and the bars or stock are first delivered to the piercer unit 48.

This piercer unit 48 comprises two uprights 51 boltedor otherwise secured to the opposite sides of the bed plate 20 and supporting a cross memshaped top of the punch and the tapered slot in the bottom of the ram. Clamp screws 58 extend through the ram and engage one of the clamp plates 57. The piercer ram 56 is moved vertically by means of connecting rod 59, the lower end of which is connected to the ram by means of a wrist-pin or the like 60. The connecting rod 59 is operated by an eccentric 61 secured to the main drive shaft 62, which extends longitudinally of the machine above the bed plate, as shown. This shaft 62 is journalled in split bearings 63, which are part of the upper cross members 64. There are six of these cross members, two at each major unit 48, 49 and of the machine.

The ram 56 slides vertically between the upright frames 51 being guided by the tongue 65 on the uprights and the U-shaped guides 66 on the ram. The upper end of the ram is tied together by means of a truss member 67. A stripper plate 68 is bolted to the upright frames 51 on the lugs 69. These lugs 69 also act as attachment brackets for the chain guides 70 of the carrier and the chain guides 70 function to hold the chains of the carrier against sidewise movement. Shim plates 71 are provided between the stripper plate 68 and the lugs 69, allowing an adjustment to the height of the stripper plate 68, which should be set to just clear a bar or stock as it travels through the piercing unit. Obviously, the Vertical movement ofthe piercer or punch 55 will slit the heated bar or stock blank and the metal struck out from the blank will be carried by the bottom run of the carrier to the drag conveyor 46.

After the bar is pierced in the first operation, it is carried to an operating position under the second or corner trimming unit 49 by means of the intermittently moving carrier chain. It is to be noted, that between the feed table 34 and each of the major units 43, 49 and 50 is disposed smooth supporting plates 72 on which the bars or stock slides as the same are carried from the feed table to each of the units.

The second unit 49 is constructed somewhat similar tc the first unit 48 and this second unit 49 embodies the spaced uprights 73 which are bolted or otherwise secured to the bed plate 20. The lower ends of the uprights 73 are connected by the cross member 74 which is bolted to the same. This cross member 74 has bolted to the same the lower die 75, which likewise has openings 74 through the same to permit the scrap cut from off of the corners of the bar to fall on the bed plate and be carried by the lower run of the carrier to the drag conveyor. Reciprocally mounted above the die 75 is a ram 76 which carries the four corner trimming knives or blades 77. Referring to Figure 7 of the drawings, it will be noted that the blades or knives are mounted in pairs on plates 78 which are adjustable toward and away from one another by means of right and left-hand threaded screw 79 operating in internally left and right-hand threaded sleeves 80 on the plates 78. This screw allows the adjusting of the shear blades to fit the length of the bar which is to be 'trimmed or sheared. The plates 78 carrying the shear blades 77 are confined in a slide in the lower face of the ram 76 and are secured in place by the clamp plates 81 h eld by the clamp screws 82. A stripper bar 83 is mounted above the die 75 and is secured to lugs 84 carriedby the frame pieces 73. Shims 85 can be interposed between the ends of the stripper bar 83 and the lugs 84 so that the position of the stripper bar can be adjusted according to the thickness of the stock or bar being operated upon.

Tongues 86 are carried by the inner faces of the side frames '73 and are received in U-shaped guides 87 carried by the sides of the ram 76. The upper ends of the guides 87 are tied together by a truss bar 88. This ram is moved up and down vertically by means of a connecting rod 89, the lower end of which is connected to the ram by means of a wrist-pin 90. The upper end of the connecting rod 89 carries a cam strap 91 which surrounds the cam or eccentric 92 secured to the main drive shaft 62. Obviously, as the ram head is moved down, the blades 77 will shear the corners of the bar or stock and the scrap will fall through the openings 74'.

After the corner trimming operation is completed, the bar or stock is transferred to the third unit 50 by means of the carrier chain. The third unit 50 is utilized for pulling the bar out into a rough circular form and consists of two upright side frames 93, which are bolted or otherwise secured to the bed plate 20. A cross bar 94 is arranged between the two frames 93 and is secured to the same in any preferred manner and acts as a table for the blanks during the spreading operation. The spreader embodies two stretching ngers 95 and 96 and are confined in a slide 97 in the cross piece 98 of the ram 99. This slide 98 is bolted as at 100 to the lower end of the ram. The ram 99 slides in guides 101 on the side upright frames 93. A cross piece or truss member 102 connects the upper part of the ram and forms a support for certain of the working parts, as will be later set forth.

The ram 99 is actuated by means cf a double faced positive motion cam 103 which is keyed cr otherwise secured to the main drive shaft 62. Motion is transferred from the cam 103 to the ram 99 by means of rollers 104 mounted in the adjusting bracket 105, which is attached to the ram by means of four adjusting screws 106. The purpose of these four adjusting screws 106 is to set the ram 99, so that the cover plate 107 clears the bar or stock being operated on, when the ram is at the extreme lower end of its travel. This is necessary to prevent twisting yor buckling of the blank when the same is being stretched.

The two stretcher fingers 95 and 96 have their lower ends tapered to facilitate the entrance thereof into the blank or stock and these fingers are moved away from each other after the same have been forced into the slot by the ram. 99 and cam 103. In order to separate the stretcher fingers 95 and 96, slotted links 108 are employed. These links 108 are pivoted at their upper ends as at 109 to the opposite sides of the truss bar 102. The lower slotted ends of the links 108 are connected to links 110 connected with the stretcher ngers.

The slotted ends 111 of the rocking links 108 receive rollers 112 mounted on the outer ends of rocker crank arms 113. These rocker crank arms 113 are keyed or otherwise secured to rock shafts 114, which are mounted in suitable bearings carried by the side frames 93. The rock shafts 114 have in turn keyed or otherwise secured thereto sector gears 115 which engage the opposite sides of rack bars 116. These rack bars 116 are slidably mounted in guides 117 secured to the outer faces of the side frames 93. Connected to the lower ends of the rack bars 116 are links 118, which are in turn pivotally connected to crank arms 119 secured to a cross shaft 120. This cross shaft 129 is supported for rocking movement in bearing brackets 121 carried by the side edges of-the side frames 93. One end of the cross shaft 120 has keyed or otherwise secured thereto a crank arm 122 and this crank arm has pivotally connected therewith a link 123. The upper end of the link is pivotally connected to the outer end of a bell crank 124. This bell crank 124 is rockably mounted at its angle on a bearing bracket 125 carried by one of the side frames 93. The outer end of the upper arm of the bell crank 124 carries a roller 126 which is mounted within a cam track 127 formed in the periphery of a cam wheel 128. This cam wheel is keyed or otherwise secured to a counter-shaft 129, which is in turn rotatably mounted in bearings 130 connected with the side frames 93 and 73. The counter-shaft 129 is geared to the main drive shaft 62 by the use of suitable intermeshing spur gears 132. By referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, it will be noted that a portion of the cam track 127 is of a straight configuration, so that no movement will be imparted to the bell crank 124 during a portion of a revolution of the counter-shaft. This permits the descent of the ram 99 prior to the operation of the spreader ngers.

While the ram and slotted links 168 are descending, the slots 111 in the links merely travel downwardly on the rollers 112 until the ram 99 has reached the lowest point of travel. t this point, the rocker crank arms 113 are rotated outwardly by the cam wheel 128, causing the slotted links 108 to swing outwardly, moving the stretcher fingers 95 and 96 away from each other to open the blank. The travel of the stretcher lingers is adjustable to suit the various sizes of blanks by changing the angular travel of the rocker arms 113.

Referring again to the link 123, it is to be noted that the lower end of the same is pivoted to a block 133, which can be slid along the arm 122 to vary the angular motion of the rocker arms 119 and 122.

After the blank has been spread by the spreader nngers, the same is carried by the carrierr chain to the rear end of the machine where the same is dumped. Any desired means can be provided for receiving the formed blanks, but in accordance with my invention the same are received in a roller conveyor 134 which carries the blanks to the ring rolling machine indicated by the reference character 135 in Figure 16 of the drawings. rEhis roller conveyor 134 will be more particularly described at a later point.

One of the salient features of my invention is the provision of novel means for intermittently operating the carrier chain or conveyor so that the bars or stock will be properly disposed under the various operating units 48, 49 and 50, as the `said bars or stock travel through the machine. The drive for the carrier chain 21 is accomplished by means of the sprocket wheels 25, heretofore referred to. The shaft 26 to which the sprocket wheels 25 are keyed has secured thereto a relatively small spur gear 135 which meshes with a relatively large spur gear 136.

' This spur gear 136 is keyed or otherwise secured to a cross shaft 137, which is intermittently actuated in proper timed relation relative to the imits 48, 49 and 50 from the main drive shaft 62. The gear 136 is larger than the gear 135, so

as to increase the angular motion between the shaft 137 and the shaft 26. The opposite end of the cross shaft 137 from the gear 137 has secured thereto a ratchet wheel 138. The ratchet wheel 138 is operated by a pawl 139 pivotally connected to a crank 140 which is rockably mounted on the cross shaft 137. A contractile coil spring 141 is employed for normally urging the pawl toward the ratchet wheel. The outer end of the crank 140 has pivotally connected therewith an adjustable link 142, which is in turn pivotally connected as at 143 to a crank arm 144 keyed or otherwise secured to a stub shaft 145. This stub shaft 145 is rotatably mounted in a bearing 146 secured to the side frame members or uprights 147. These uprights are bolted to the bed plate 20 as is clearly shown in Figure 13 of the drawings. The inner end of the shaft 145 has keyed or otherwise secured thereto a relatively small beveled pinion 148 which meshes with a relatively large beveled gear 149, which is keyed or otherwise secured to the main drive shaft 62.

The adjustable link 142 provides an adjustment for positioning the carrier chains to bring them in proper, correct position under the three operating units 48, 49 and 50. The ratio between the pinion 148 and the gear 149 is 3 1, so that the pawl 139 makes three strokes per revolution on the drive shaft 62. However, during two strokes, the pawl 139 is held out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 138 by means of the cam sector 150, which is rockably mounted on the ratchet shaft 137. At the third stroke the cam sector 150 is rotated out of the way of the pawl 139 so as to allow the pawl to drop into one notch in the ratchet wheel 138, which results in rotation. of the ratchet shaft 137. This rotation of the ratchet shaft 137 is transmitted to the drive sprockets 25 of the carrier chains.

As shown in Figure 14 of the drawings, the cam sector 150 is positioned in front of the pawl 139, so that the pawl will be held away from the ratchet wheel during two strokes of the pawl, as heretofore stated. v

Motion of the cam sector is provided for by the cam drum 151 which is keyed or otherwise secured to the main drive shaft 62 through levers 152 and 153. These levers 152 and 153 are keyed or otherwise secured to a shaft 154 which is rockably carried by a bearing bracket 155, which can be bolted to one of the side frames 93. The upper end of the lever 152 carries a roller 156 which lits within the cam groove 157 formed in the periphery of the cam drum 151. The lever 153 is connected to the cam sector by means of an adjustable connecting rod or link 158. By this mechanism the carrier chain 21 is effectively operated in a step-by-step motion for correctly bringing the bars through the machine.

The main drive of the machine consists of a motor 159 mounted on the base plate 160, which is supported by the bed plate 20. A pinion 161 is driven by the motor and meshes with a relatively large gear 162, which is keyed directly to the main drive shaft 62. A speed reducer (not shown) is preferably placed between the motor and pinion so that the speed of the pinion can me materially reduced. By changing the sizes of the gear 162 and the pinion 161 relative to one another, the speed of the machine can be made to synchronize with the ring roller.

After the finished blanks are discharged from the third unit or stretcher, the same are dropped on the live rolls 163 of the roller conveyor 134.

By referring to the diagrammatic showing in Figure 16, it will be noted that this roller conveyor 134 is of a substantially horseshoe shape with a front transverse portion extending across the rear end of the blank forming machine and with the ends thereof extending rearwardly from the blank orrning machine to the ring forming machine 135. The live rolls 163 convey the blanks to the ring roller. These rolls 163 are reversible so as to deliver the formed blanks to each side of the ring roller alternately. The drive for the rolls may consist of a reduction electric motor 164 driving a spur gear speed reducer 165 through the medium of a flexible coupling 166. The speed reducer 165 is geared to a driven shaft 167 which extends along the roller conveyor, by means of beveled gears 166. The driven shaft 167 is connected with each of the rolls 163 by means of mitre gears 169 which are keyed respectively to the roll shafts and to the driven shaft 167.

The motor 164 is of the reversing type, as heretofore stated, and the same is provided with an electrically operated brake to insure rapid stopping of the motor previous to reversing it. The reversing of the motor is accomplished by a suitable switch (not shown), which can be actuated by any desired part of the machine, such as from one of the rack bars 116. This switch may be eliminated or disconnected, when the blanks are being fed to only one side of the ring roller, causing the motor 164 to run in only one direction.

The carrier chains 21 are equipped with attachment links to allow the attachment of the cross bars or flights 23 and the lingers 41 and 42 thereto. The lingers 41 and 42 are provided with guide lugs 170 on their upper faces which engage in the slot of the guide 70, which prevents twisting oi the chain while the blanks are being conveyed. The fingers 41 and 42 have their lugs so arranged that they will not interfere with the operations of corner trimming and stretching.

To accommodate a different sized blank, the carrier ngers 4l and 42 must be changed to nt the blank. These lingers are flat plate castings bolted to the carrier chains. The piercer die 53 and the punch `55 must be changed to suit the size of the slot required in the blanks. The stripper 68 for the piercer is adjusted by means of the shims 7l. The corner trimmer punch is adjusted to clip the corners as required by adjusting the corners in and out to fit the blank. The die 75 must also be made to exactly t the blank.

The stroke of the stretcher fingers is adjusted by means of the slide block 133 on the arm 122. By moving the block 133 closer to the shaft 120, the stroke of the stretcher iingers is increased or vice versa, by moving the block 133 further away from the shaft 120, the stroke of the stretcher fingers is reduced. The vertical movement of the stretcher fingers is adjusted by means of the adjusting screws 156 between the cam roller bracket 105 and the ram 99. The main drive gears 161 and 162 can be changed to vary the speed of the main drive shaft to suit the type of blanks handled.

From the foregoing description, it can be seen that I have provided a novel and simple form of machine in which the bars or blanks are received in their solid form and continuously delivered in their rough blank form for delivering to the iinishing ring roller machine.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or the scope of this invention, but what I claim as new is.

I claim:

1. A ring blank forming machine comprising a base, an intermittently operated conveyor carrying a plurality oi blanks through the machine, means located at spaced points along the conveyor for punching, trimming and spreading the blanks, and conveyor means receiving the finished blanks from the intermittently operated conveyor.

2. A ring blank forming machine comprising a base, an intermittently operated conveyor?.

carrying a plurality oi blanks through the machine, means located at spaced points along the conveyor for punching, trimming and spreading the blanks, and means for simultaneously operating the punch, trimmer and spreader.

3.'A ring blank forming machine comprising a base, an intermittently operated conveyor carrying a plurality of blanks through the machine, means located at spaced points along the conveyor for punching, trimming and spreading the blanks, and a longitudinally extending drive shaft for simultaneously operating the punch, trimmer and spreader.

4. A ring blank forming machine comprising a base, a conveyor carrying the blanks to be operated on along the base, a punch, corner trimmer and spreader located at spaced points along the conveyor, a longitudinally extending drive shaft for operating the punch, trimmer and spreader simultaneously, and means for inter-` shaft arranged above the conveyor for simultaneously actuating the punch, corner trimmer and spreader, said punch embodying a die arranged below one run of the conveyor, and a reciprocating blade disposed above the mentioned run of the conveyor.

6. In a ring blank forming machine, a base, a cross member having a slot connected to said base, an endless conveyor movable over the cross member, a die for receiving the blank secured to the cross member having a slot registering with the slot in the cross member, a drive shaft, an accentric on the drive shaft, a ram, a punch blade secured to the ram and movable through the slot in the die, and a connecting rod operatively connecting the eccentric with the ram.

'7. In a ring blank forming machine, a base, a cross member having a slot connected to said base, an endless conveyor movable over the cross member, a die for receiving the blank secured to the cross member having a slot registering with the slot in the cross member, a drive shaft, an eccentric on the drive shaft, a ram, a punch blade secured to the ram and movable through the slot in the die, a connecting rod operatively connecting the eccentric with the ram, and a stationary stripper plate located above the die and conveyor receiving the punch blade during the travel thereof.

8. In a ring blank forming machine, a base, a cross member connected with the base having over the openings, aV conveyor for carrying blanks through the base having one run arranged over the die, a ram, a drive shaft for .reciprocating the ram, pairs of corner shearranged over the die, a ram, a drive shaft for reciprocating the ram, pairs of corner shearing knives connected with the ram for engaging a blank. moved by the conveyor over the die,

and means for adjusting the pairs of corner shearing knives toward and away from one another.

10. In a ring blank forming machine, a base, a cross member connected with the base having corner openings therein, a die connected with the cross member having its corners disposed over theV openings, a conveyor for carrying blanks through the base having one run arranged over the die, a ram, a drive shaft for reciprocating the ram, pairs of corner shearing knives connected with the ram for engaging av blankV moved by the conveyor over the die, means for adjusting the pairs of corner shearing knives toward and away fromv one another, and a. stripper plate adjustable vertically disposed between the corner shearing knives of the pairs of knives arranged directly above the upper face of the blank disposed on the die.

11. In a ring blank forming machine, a base, an endless conveyor traveling over said base, and means for. spreading a slitted blank including a reciprocatory ram, a drive shaft, means for reciprocating. theV ram from the drive shaft, spreader fingersY slidably carried by the ram and normally disposed in contact with one another, and. means for moving the spreading ngers from one another when the ram has beenl moved to a.- lowered position and the ngers inserted. in the slitted portion of the blank.

12. Ina ring blank forming machine, a base, an intermittently operated conveyor traveling over said base, and means for spreading slitted blanks carried by the conveyor including a vertically movable ram, a longitudinally extending drive shaft, means for reciprocating the ramV toward andV away from the conveyor, a

pair of spreader fingers slidably carried by the ram, and means for spreading the fingers after the ram has reached its lowermost position and the fingers have been inserted in the blank including a pair of swinging arms, inwardly directed: linksr pivotally connecting the lower ends of the armsy to the fingers, said arms having their lower ends provided with slots, a pair of rock shafts, crank arms keyed to the rock shafts having rollers mounted in the slotted portions of the. arms, sector gears connected with the rock shafts, a vertically movable rack bar engaging the sector gears, and means for reciprocating theA rack bar from the drive shaft.

13. In a ring blank forming machine, a base, an. intermittently operated conveyor traveling over said base, and ymeans for spreading slitted blanks carried by the conveyor including a vertically movable ram, a longitudinally extending corner openings therein, a die connected with the cross` member having its corners disposed drive shaft, meansV for reciprocating the ram toward and away from the conveyor, a pair of spreader fingers slidably carried by the ram, and means for spreading the iingers after the ram has reached its lowermost position and the:A

provided with slots, a pair of rock shafts, crank f arms keyed to the rock shafts having rollers mounted in the slotted portions of the arms, sector gears connected with the rock shafts, a vertically movable rack bar engaging the sector gears, and means for reciprocating the rack bar from the drive shaft, said means including a rock shaft, oppositely directed levers secured to the last mentioned rock shaft, means connectingY one of said leversto the rack bar, a drum cam rotatable from the drive shaft, a bell crank pivoted at its angle having a roller engaging the drum cam, and means connecting the other arm of the bell crank with the other lever connected with the second mentioned rock shaft.

14:. In a ring blank forming machine, a base, an intermittently operated conveyor traveling over said base, and means for spreading slitted blanks carried by the conveyor including a vertically movable ram, a longitudinally extending drive shaft, means for reciprocating the ram toward and away from the conveyor, a pair of spreader iingers slidably carried by the ram, and means for spreading the fingers after the ram has reached its lowermost position and the lingers have been inserted in the blank including a pair of swinging arms, inwardly directed links pivotally connecting the lower ends of the arms to the fingers, said arms having their lower ends provided with slots, a pair of rock shafts, crank arms keyed to the rock shafts having rollers mounted in the slotted portions of the arms, sector gears connected with the rock shafts, a vertically movable rack bar engaging the sector gears, and means for reciprocating the rack bar from the drive shaft, said means including a rock shaft, oppositely directed levers secured to the last mentioned rock shaft, means connecting one of said levers to the rack bar, a drum cam rotatable from the drive shaft, a bell crank pivoted at its angle having a roller engaging the drum cam, and means connecting the other airm of the bell crank with the other lever connected with the second mentioned rock shaft, said drum cam being provided with a cam track having a straight portion for half of its circumference, whereby the bell crank will remain stationary during downward travel of the ram.

15. In a ring blank forming machine, a base, an intermittently operated conveyor traveling over said base, and means for spreading slitted blanks carried by the conveyor including a vertically movable ram, a longitudinally extending drive shaft, means for reciprocating the ram toward and away from the conveyor, a pair of spreader fingers slidably carried by the ram, and means for spreading the fingers after the ram has reached its lowermost position and the fingers have been inserted in the blank including a' pair of swinging arms, inwardly directed links pivotally connecting the lower ends of the arms to the lingers, said arms having their lower ends provided with slots, a pair of rock shafts, crank arms keyed to the rock shafts having rollers mounted in the slotted portions of the arms,

sector gears connected with the rock shaits, a vertically movable rack bar engaging the sector gears, and means for reciprocating the rack bar from the drive shaft, said means including a rock shaft, oppositely directed levers secured to the last mentioned rock shaft, means connecting one oi said levers to the rack bar, a drum cam rotatable from the drive shaft, a bell crank pivoted at its angle having a roller engaging the drum cam, and means connecting the other arm of the bell crank with the other lever connected with the second mentioned rock shaft, said drum cam being provided with a cam track having a straight portion 'for half oi its circumference, whereby the bell crank will remain stationary during downward travel of the and means for adjustably connecting the link with the lever on the second mentioned rock shaft, whereby the throw oi said lever can be controlled.

16. A ring blank forming machine comprising a base, a chain conveyor traveling along said base, for supporting the conveyor including a takemp shaft at one end, sprocket wheels for the conveyor chains rotatably mounted on the take-up shaft, a cross shaft located at the opposite end of the base from the take-up shaft having sprocket wheels keyed thereto for receiving the conveyor chains, a punch, corner trimmer and blank spreader connected with the base and located at spaced points along the length ci the conveyor chain, a longitudinally extending drive shaft, means for simultaneously operating the punch, corner trimmer and spreader irom the drive shaft, a motor operating said drive shaft, means intermittently operating the conveyor chain in proper timed relation to the punch, corner trimmer and spreader from the drive shaft including a driven cross shaft, gearing connecting the driven cross shaft with the cross shaft oi the conveyor, a cam drum having a cam slot keyed to the drive shaft, a ratchet wheel on the driven cross shaft, a crank arm rotatably mounted on the driven cross shaft, a pivoted pawl on the crank arm normally urged toward the teeth of the ratchet wheel, means for continuously operating `the crank arm from the drive shaft, a earn block for holding the pawl away from the ratchet wheel on two strokes ci the crank arm including a connecting link secured to the cam block, and means for operating the connecting link from the drum cam.

i. ln a ring blank forming machine, a base, pairs of transversely alined side frames conn nected with the base, a longitudinally extending drive shaft located above the base rotatably supported by said iframes, means for continuously operating said drive shaft, a punch, a corner timrner and blank spreader associated with said side frames and operated simultaneously from the drive shaft, cross shafts arranged adjacent to the opposite ends ci? the base, sprocket wheels on said cross shafts, an endless conveyor including side sprocket chains trained over said sprocket wheels, means connecting the chains together, and pairs oi ring blank receiving fingers secured to the sprocket chains ior holding the blanks during the travel thereof through the machine, guide tracks connected with said guide frames, and guide lugs on the fingers engaging said tracks.

18, In a ring blank forming machine, a longitudinally extending base, pairs ci transversely alined si e iframes connected with the base and arranged at spaced points along the length thereof, a longitudinally extending drive shaft, an endless conveyor extending longitudinally of the hase including upper and lower runs, the lower run being located in close proximity to the upper race of the base, a punch, corner trimmer and spreader connected with the side frames for operating on blanks carried by the upper run of the conveyor, the scrap from said blanks being received on the base, whereby the lower run of the conveyor will convey the scrap to one end oi the machine.

19. ln a ring blank forming machine, a longitudinally extending base, pairs of transversely alined side frames connected with the base and arranged at spaced points along the length thereof, a longitudinally extending drive shaft, an endless conveyor extending longitudinally of the base including upper and lower runs, the lower run being located in close proximity to the upper face oi the base, a punch, corner trimmer and spreader connected with the side frames for operating on blanks carried by the upper run of the conveyor, the scrap from said blanks being received on the base, whereby the lower run of the conveyor will convey the scrap to one end ci the machine, and a scrap conveyor located at the mentioned end of the machine for receiving the scrap from the first mentioned conveyor.

20. In a ring blank forming machine, a base,

a blank receiving table at one end or" the base, an endless conveyor movable longitudinally of the base for conveying the blanks to ce operated on through the machine, a punch, a corner trimmer, and spreader arranged on the base at spaced points through the length of the conveyor, and a Lleshaped live roller conveyor receiving the iinished blanks from the first conveyor, said U-shaped live roller conveyor embodying a transverse portion arranged across one end of the machine and parallel rearwardly extending legs, and a reversible motor for operating said live rollers.

JOHN J. ECKERT. 

